What causes young people to offend? What influence do schools have on young peoples' offending behaviour in relation to other possible causal factors? These are the critical criminological and educational questions addressed in Schools and the Problem of Crime.The book examines the causes of offending in the school context among 3,103, male and female, Year 10 pupils (age 14-15), in twenty state schools in Cardiff. The findings of one of the largest empirical studies of its kind in the UK are used to examine the role of schools, family background, neighbourhood, young peoples' social situation and dispositions, and lifestyles on pupils' offending behaviour. Schools and the Problem of Crime disentangles the interplay and relationships between causal factors in its approach understanding why young people offend in the school context and why young people do not, as well as examining why some schools experience higher offending rates than others. The book employs an integrative analytical approach which is theoretically led. Through gaining an understanding of the factors that cause young people to offend it is envisaged that future crime prevention strategies can be better informed and targeted. Schools and the Problem of Crime will be essential reading for anybody with an interest in the issues schools face, the causes of crime and in understanding why young people offend.